The Browns' team president didn't need to win the press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine Saturday, at least nowhere near as badly as Manti Te'o did.

Because, frankly, he's not worried about your perception or mine.

Banner promised to bring truth to intention, saying that while he might not answer some questions directly he "will not lie to anybody here."

Was this the Joe Banner Straight Talk Express?

You could give him credit for that. But since Banner is raising the bar on everybody in Berea, it's only fair to raise it on him.

Promising not to mislead is laudable. But it's still the plan that matters.

Banner touched on a number of subjects. You can question why he's the front man on personnel matters at the Combine. But if you do at this late date, it means you haven't been paying attention.

This is his show.

Whatever Rob Chudzinski or Mike Lombardi says, Banner is the final word.

He said Brandon Weeden will get a chance to grow under Norv Turner and Rob Chudzinski, but any commitment beyond that is premature.

He can't say for sure that Josh Gordon was worth a high-second round pick, putting it in the category of "to be determined."

He didn't only say Dick Jauron's defense wasn't aggressive enough but also not good enough.

The most refreshing thing about Banner Saturday? Like what he's doing or not (and, please, you can stop sending me separated-at-birth likenesses of Banner and Dr. No), he is framing everything in the context of what it takes to build championship teams.

I'll take that over what we had here the past few years.

The slow crawl of a five-year plan.

A president who raised expectations on the fans and media before voicing the same expectations for his team.

Banner and Jimmy Haslam promised smart decisions at their first press conference.

Banner says the questions about Weeden and Gordon are whether they have what it takes to play for a championship team.

The best Mike Holmgren could do was to say 6-10 in 2012 was not acceptable.

The plan to give Weeden time but not a lock on the job is smart for sure.

He deserves the former, especially in a down-field passing game run by Chudzinski and Norv Turner. He did nothing to deserve the latter in his first season.

Gordon flashed in his first season but Banner's point is that a high second-round pick on a wide receiver should produce something special. Here, where Brian Robiskie couldn't get on the field and Mohamed Massaquoi couldn't stay on the field, the impulse is to simply be satisfied with something better than that.

As for the Browns' defense in 2012, Jauron coached without key veteran linebackers, without Joe Haden for four games, with a young secondary. There was no reason to expect Jauron's 4-3 defense, thick with young, mobile defensive linemen, wouldn't continue to improve.

But it's hard to fault coveting a more aggressive philosophy, provided it doesn't take two years to stock Ray Horton's "hybrid" with personnel.

What's easy is being skeptical of anything that happens in Berea, but that's out of sheer force of habit than any major mis-steps by Banner and Haslam.

As is the case with Weeden, getting time to show what they can do before there's any rush to judgment seems only fair.

Spinoffs

LeBron James' X Cork shoe, a nod to the champagne corks popping in Miami when the Heat won the NBA title last summer, will be unveiled at a store in Akron.

Because if there's anything people in Northeast Ohio can relate to, it's the sound of a championship celebration.

Joe Banner told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine: "I would not expect . . . that we are going to be receptive to trading our players. We're looking to build on the players we have."

That should stop teams from beating down the doors like it's Black Friday.

Turned on the NFL Network late Friday night and saw Sports Illustrated football writer Peter King -- eyes closed, trying to balance on one foot as part of a NFL Scouting Combine test.

Look, I know Roger Goodell is all-powerful, but if he insists on testing sports writers for concussions before allowing them to return to their laptops, the written word will die.

Concussions are especially a requirement for covering a Super Bowl Media Day without questioning your career decision.

Three players were ejected in a wild baseball brawl between Sacramento State and UC Riverside.

If Pedro Martinez wants to give back after a long and fruitful playing career, the least he can do is show the next generation of players the art of backpedaling down the dugout steps and hiding behind the water cooler.

Indians' manager Terry Francona doesn't sweat the small things, including the fact that his closer, Chris Perez, is outspoken.

After so many years in Boston, if Francona comes to work and the first pre-game interview question doesn't come from the National Enquirer or Geraldo, everything's going to be OK.

Bobby Valentine, Francona's successor in Boston, will join Sacred Heart University in Connecticut as the school's athletic director.

Presiding over the worst Red Sox record since 1965 (69-93) was obviously the springboard to his new position.

According to the New York Times, Valentine claims he invented the wrap sandwich when he ran out of toast and threw a bunch of ingredients into a tortilla while working for as a cook in a Samford restaurant in 1982.

"I rolled it up, and I melted a little cheese on the top to keep the tortilla from opening up," Valentine explained.

You know, a burrito.

Ashlee Arnau, a cheerleader at William Carey University in Mississippi, made a front-flip half-court shot Thursday at halftime of a men's basketball game.

Check it out on the internet.

Just don't get any ideas, Dion Waiters.

He said it

"Unless you've got to get out and push the car, it's a different deal." -- Tony Stewart, on why NASCAR drivers don't have to be addicted to fitness.

Though it does help in the post-race boxing match.

He said what?

"We're going to put the best guy on the field that gives us the best chance to win." -- Browns' coach Rob Chudzinski on the decision he faces at quarterback.

That's worked so well in the past, what's to worry?

You said it

(The Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Hey Bud: In the Tribe's new slogan, 'This is a Tribe town,' Terry Francona says to be a Cleveland sports fan it takes 'resilience.' Shouldn't drugs, booze and a good sense of humor be added to that?" -- Doug, Westlake

Don't get carried away. If a good sense of humor were a requirement for Cleveland sports fans, "You said it" would not exist.

"Hey, Bud: What if? This is a Tribe Town" -- Tim, Twinsburg

It beats last year's unofficial slogan, "This is a Ghost Town."

"Bud: Is it true that the white smoke emanating from the CBS studios means that Jim Nantz has been elected the new Pope?" -- Big Al, Aurora

Not sure. If so, I believe we can credit Mike Lombardi for drafting him out of the College of Cardinals.

"Bud: Do the sports writers at the PD get tested for using PEDs?" -- Bill Schmidt

By the letter of our collective bargaining agreement we're only tested for three things: beer, cynicism and professional desperation.

"Bud: I just hurt my back doing chores for my wife. I checked below Spin for a good massage place but saw no ads. Can you share your favorites with me?" -- Mike Nath, Sandusky

Spin is far too sophisticated to be printed adjacent to massage parlor ads. So if the desire for a massage lasts more than four hours, all I can tell you is to consult your chiropractor.

"Bud: When you were hired by the PD did they make you take the Wonderlic test and what was your score?" -- Devin, Concord

Let's just say my score makes Vince Young look like Stephen Hawking.

"Bud: I always hear the sports announcers refer to redshirt freshman and fifth-year seniors. Can you tell me what classes they take?" -- George M, Avon

They take classes through the mail on how to register for online classes.

"Bud: So Danica Patrick can drive fast, but can she parallel park?" -- Michael Sarro

First-time "You said it" winners receive a T-shirt from the mental_floss collection. Repeat winners get curbed.

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